IAF asks its officers to increase vigil

New Delhi, Nov 24 (PTI) The Indian Air Force has asked
its officers to increase vigil keeping in mind the instability
in the neighbourhood due to the global economic turmoil.

"The world economy is in a turmoil posing new challenges
to our country. Instability already exists in our
neighbourhood. Hence, we need to be more vigilant than ever
before," Western Air Command (WAC) chief Air Marshal P K
Barbora said while addressing the two day WAC commanders'
conference beginning here Monday.

"The need of the hour is to make optimal use of all
our assets, be it equipment or our skilled manpower so as to
expand on our capability spectrum," he added.

Air Marshal Barbora also asked his commanders to avoid
wastage and increase their operational efficiency by making
the best use of the hi-tech equipment being inducted under the
modernisation of the force.

"Our men should be trained to handle the hi-tech
equipment with caution so that no wastage takes place. The
endeavour is to make ourselves ever ready to accept any
challenge and improve operational efficiency to a very high
order but without compromising flight safety," Barbora said.

The WAC Chief called for a greater synergy between
the three Services to cope up with the present challenges
faced by the country.

"The synergy among us and the other services needs
to be strengthened to cope up with the challenges of the
time," the Air Marshal said.

Barbora said the force was working to improve the
quality of life for its men and their families.

"The welfare of our men and families should be a major
thrust area and efforts should be directed to improve the
quality of life at our bases," Barbora stated.

IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major will
address the conference tomorrow.

In the recent past, the WAC has been very active in
increasing its operational preparedness with the activation of
old advance landing grounds (ALGs) like Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO)
and Fukche in eastern Ladakh for transport aircraft
operations, carrying out first set of sorties of Su-30 MKI
from the Leh air base and commencement of night operations by
fighter aircraft from forward airfields in Jammu and Kashmir.

WAC is one of the unique air force formations in the
world as its area of operations extends from the world's
highest airfields in the Himalayas to the deserts of
Rajasthan.

The most operational command of the IAF, WAC is said
to be equivalent to the eighth largest air force in the world
and provides aerial protection to the national capital also.
PTI AJD
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